Forget ‘Pre-Orders’ – Amazon.com is now accepting real orders and shipping out Spotlight: A Close-Up Look at the Artistry and Meaning of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Novels. Just in Time For Christmas!
Here are the first two reviews that are up on the page:
5.0 out of 5 stars Spotlight Shines as Twilight Criticism!, December 11, 2009
By Elizabeth Hardy
John Granger, known for his deft and delightful Harry Potter Scholarship, has now put his considerable abilities to the task of analyzing the artistry and meaning of Stephenie Meyer’s runaway bestselling Twilight Saga.
In this readable and engaging text, Granger covers the layers of meaning that, whether readers know it or not, are directly responsible for the enchantment the Saga holds as well as its phenomenal success. Both casual readers and more serious ones will be fascinated by this journey through Forks and beyond. In his typical fashion, Granger crafts together a brilliant analysis that is insightful, intelligent, and fresh, but also readable, engaging, and fun.
By delving into the Saga’s layers of meaning and how each one affects the reader, Granger effectively presents some of the many elements that have led to the books’ popularity and beloved status with millions of readers. The text also effectively covers Meyer’s myriad of influences, ranging from comic books and zombie movies to Shakespeare and her personal faith and upbringing, revealing meaning in everything from the names of Bella’s teachers to the literary function and history of Breaking Dawn’s controversial plot and ending. Readers of the Saga will never visit Forks in quite the same way, as they will now see far more in those misty forests.
The book is organized effectively, with a handy (and sometimes hilarious) checklist section at the end, just in case you miss something, along with the usual useful tools, including notes and a works cited page that will lead readers to further deep reading and insights into this remarkable story of love, sacrifice, and transformation.
Though serious scholarship, Spotlight is certainly not a text merely for the denizens of the Ivory Tower (although one hopes it will help those folks see how much Twilight truly has to offer). If you think you know Twilight, want to better understand the world of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, or just are puzzled why these novels have such a hold on the popular imagination, let John Granger be your guide to a rich and fascinating exploration of artistry and meaning with this essential, must-have guide that should be only the beginning of thought-provoking and illuminating scholarship on Twilight.
5.0 out of 5 stars Granger explained why I loved Twilight and helped me love it more, December 11, 2009 By Sharon Jackson
Like many others, I read Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight the day I bought it, and (since I came to the TwiHard experience late) I read the rest of the series in the same week. I have since re-read the Twilight Saga several times, and wondered what has kept drawing me back. It seems there is more to find each time I read these novels.
Finally John Granger has written a book that shows me why I love Bella and Edward’s story so much. There is far more to Forks than meets the eye, and it isn’t just vampires and werewolves that are hidden in the pages of Twilight. Granger has read the Twilight books very carefully, and Spotlight clearly and cleverly showed me much more than I had been able to discover on my own. It was just what it promised to be: a Spotlight on the world of Twilight.
If you love Twilight, and you want to know why you love it so much, or if you love Bella and Edward and want to know why their romance is so inspiring, read Spotlight. It will help you see Twilight in a whole different light!
Thank you, Elizabeth and Sharon!
Those wanting to be sure they will have a copy of Spotlight by Christmas can order today at Amazon.com or from SpotlightOnTwilight.com, where Zossima Press is selling autographed copies with a free copy of Looking for God in Harry Potter thrown in for the first serious readers in line! (You can read Spotlight’s Introduction on that site as well.)
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John,
I’ll be buying your book soon (hopefully today!). I have a quick question:
I have heard a lot from some thoughtful Christian readers that Twilight presents a bad (un-Christian) view of love and sexuality, and also that Edward is a terrible influence on young girls, because he encourages them to seek out boys with a history of violence and/or remain in abusive relationships. What do you think about these charges? Do you address them in the book?
Thanks!
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David, I’m happy you’re getting John’s book, because it will be very helpful to you in understanding the Saga and it’s symbolism, and it will answer your questions in full, including why the Saga is so popular. What you’re hearing is erroneous, from those who haven’t read the books or who have read them superficially. (Think of the Harry Potter controversy.) I recommend you read the Saga for yourself with an open mind, also Midnight Sun, Edward’s version of Twilight; the first half of it is available free at Stephenie Meyer’s website.
But rest assured, Edward is not abusive or a bad example of skewed love. His love is pure and sacrificial, a kind of love thin in the ground these days, alas.
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Arabella,
Thanks for the comment. I actually have read large bits of the book (while my wife was reading them) and I got a lot of “play-by-play” summaries from her of the bits I didn’t read. I wrote a blog post defending the merits of the books a few months back: http://evangelicaloutpost.com/archives/2009/07/the-power-of-twilight.html
It’s nowhere near the level of John’s interaction, I’m sure, but it sparked a fair bit of controversy in the comments section!
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David, I read your post and the comments. The passionate Ms. Stallones, in particular, made me wonder by her comments if she had read the books or has read them through the same kind of filter employed by Christian Harry-hatred. Her statement that Rowling used witchcraft as a spiritual metaphor shows she hasn’t understood Rowling’s books, either.
I encourage you to not back down on your initial position or be swayed by those who have not read the books, have read them surface-only through a filter (whatever the source), or who argue ideas in the books as isolated. I again suggest reading Meyer’s work in full to be fully apprised of their content in context.
I’ve been a Christian for over 40 years and found the Saga very satisfying storytelling in so many ways (as have other Christians here); I found it far more thoughtful and edifying than most of the Christian bookseller fiction I’ve read (and have given up on for years).
Last spring I wrote a guest post called A Psychological Look at Bella and Edward in Twilight and New Moon. You can find it in the June archives. This was my perspective on one reason the books were so popular. I plan to expand it, addressing in a fuller way some of hot issues of concern, and hope to incorporate comments from those who have found the Saga resonant and meaningful.
I encourage you to continue to look for the good in the layers and meanings of Twilight.
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Oh, yes, I really appreciated the psychology article that you wrote, Arabella. It was excellent! And I personally found it VERY helpful and illuminating in understanding the psychological complexity of the characters and their relationships. I would highly recommend that you read it, David.
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